Questions tagged [fire-safety]
The fire-safety tag has no usage guidance.
40 questions
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Flame-retardant breathable fabric for covering exposed loose fiberglass insulation?
I have some exposed insulation in my basement that I would like to prevent from getting disturbed by boxes on a shelf I'll be accessing right in front of it. I know that fiberglass insulation can be ...
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Can I use a 13amp 3prong extension cord to plug in my upright freezer?
I bought a 13.3cu feet standing freezer (2.5amp, 115volt) and it does not fit near an existing outlet. I bought a 15 foot extension cord (13amp) to use to power on the appliance.
I was googling and ...
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Are wired, interconnected smoke detectors using 14ga conductors considered an "Non-power-limited Fire Alarm System" in the language of the 2023 NEC?
Am I required to comply with the NEC rules regarding "fire alarm systems" for a residential smoke detector?
Rules such as a red, dedicated circuit breaker labeled "fire alarm system&...
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What kind of fire alarm in a detached backyard office? [closed]
I have a 96sqft detached finished shed in my backyard which I use as an office. I don't have any kind of fire alarm right now, and I'm trying to decide whether and what kind I need.
No one ever sleeps ...
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Is it safe to place a dehumidifier near a gas furnace in a Laundry/Furnace room?
I recently purchased a new dehumidifier and I'm considering placing it in my laundry/furnace room since there's a drain available. However, I'm a bit concerned about any potential fire risks due to ...
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Fire Barrier for Gap Under Stud Bay
I discovered this gap under the house today while plugging a nearby leak in the duct. Photo is in the crawl space looking up between the joists.
This spot is also sandwiched above a foundation beam, ...
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Is it okay to store window air conditioners near a natural gas tankless combi boiler?
I have some window AC units that have warning labels saying not to store them near sources of combustion like water heaters. I have a tankless combi boiler that runs on natural gas in a small room in ...
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Understanding the risks surrounding empty tanks & containers (propane, natural gas, septic, etc.)
In a quickly upvoted comment to this answer regarding propane tanks, community member crip659 wrote:
I would change "any level" to ever contained. Empty containers can be as bad(deadly) as ...
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Using ceramic fiber insulation as alternative to type-x drywall on garage ceiling
I'm currently renovating my garage, which has a bonus room above. I've removed the existing type-x drywall on the garage ceiling to install some Rockwool sound / fire insulation in between the truss ...
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Fire door from indoors (the house) to garage does not fit the jamb properly. Sometimes it's very difficult to close the door as it hits the threshold
This old fire door and frame does not fit properly. The metal door sometimes hits the threshold at the bottom and will not close. I have to put shims under the threshold outside to lower the inside of ...
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What are my options for a low ceiling garage door opener?
I have a two car garage with a low ceiling and limited side wall space. Whoever installed the two garage door openers decided that they needed the head room and cut out a strip of drywall running the ...
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Fire / smoke detectors with email notifications [closed]
Are there any fire / smoke detectors that can send an email notification when activated?
I don't want mobile phone notifications, only email.
It's not important if it meets any fire safety regulations ...
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What’s the ampacity for 18 AWG wire, at 24 V AC
I’m wiring up some door bells for my company. Have at 120v to 24vAC 50VA transformer. The length of wire is somewhere around 200ft at it longest single length. I’m just wondering what’s the max amp ...
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Is it safe to have an unused bulb socket in my ceiling fan?
I don’t have a bulb for my ceiling fan but it has a glass cover. Is that safe? The bulb popped and I haven’t got a new bulb yet and was wondering if the open socket would be safe.
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Would blown-in insulation provide any degree of blocking in balloon construction?
As I understand it...
One of the problems with old-style balloon construction of walls was that since there was a continuous space between studs which ran the full height of the house, a housefire ...
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How do I avoid overcharging the inverter battery and keep it healthy [closed]
I have installed the Luminous Inverter Battery (lead acid) as power back up for essential electrical appliances at home.
There is not much electricity cut. I just want to be sure that I'm not ...
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exposed ceiling around ceiling box
A fundamental tenet of electrical wiring safety is that all connections (of AC household wiring, typically 120 or 240v) be enclosed in rated electrical boxes.
However, ceiling light fixtures and fans ...
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How do I take the slack out of a door closer chain?
There is a cylinder with a spring inside. Presumably when the spring is compressed it will pull the external chain attached to it to be taught, I.e. not slack.
But I can't keep the spring compressed ...
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Reflective bubble insulation for making stairs fire-resistant?
I recently moved into a two-story home that has a storage cupboard under the stairs. There is no finish underneath the bottom part of the stairs, and the bare plywood is exposed, which is a fire ...
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Can junction box be placed on insulation above ceiling drywall?
I am thinking of installing these lights on my ceiling. Each light comes with its own junction box that you just leave inside the ceiling. My ceiling, however, has insulation right above it. Is it ...
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What causes a rainbow sheen on wire jacket?
I've got this wire running through my wall that has a bit of a rainbow sheen to it. I feel like that's probably an indication the wire has gotten a bit toasty in the past and should be replaced.
Is ...
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Can I connect a 1-3 adapter to a 12/3 extension cord?
Before I ask, I understand how extension cords work to a point. I understand if anything is plugged in, it needs to stay under the rated wattage and amperage. I also understand the way cords are rated ...
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Is it safe to use foil heat tape inside the dryer?
The metal air duct pipe inside my electric dryer does not seem to completely seal against the plastic housing of the exhaust blower fan.
Is it safe to use metal foil heat tape to join them together, ...
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Back stabbed outlets
A number of years ago I had our electrician change all of our quick wired/back stabbed outlets in our new home to the screw terminals for better and safer connections.
Recently I discovered he didn’t ...
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What can be safely attached to a gas furnace cabinet?
The gas furnace in my house is in my laundry room about 3 inches from a stacked washer and dryer.
As such, my laundry room is short on space, so I had the thought I could add some organization by ...
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How can I make my electrical box dustproof?
I have a 1-gang box that I'm installing a switch in, for my wood shop. I need to make it dust-resistant, if not absolutely dustproof. I can't use a waterproof box because I don't think they're made ...
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Fire safety for room on interior of home
I’m looking at a house that has a room on the interior (highlighted in red below) with no window/door to the outside of the area. Knowing that this isn’t fire code compliant to be considered a bedroom,...
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How do I Re-Light My 1995 Magic Chef free stand stove Model# 3110PRW & the pilot Light for the Oven also needs Lit?
It’s my vacation home ,It was working until I removed burner plates, to clean stove top. Next day it wouldnt turn on, even with a match, The pilot light for the oven , off also ? Do they work off one ...
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Is wire arcing a potential danger?
I have a cable running along my basement ceiling. There is a cord connection (looks like an extension added to it) but where they connect is all metal (it looks like an AUX jack). There is slack in ...
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Extension Cords - Electrical Hazards & Safety
We are looking at purchasing a Residence that has a Home Office Area attached to it. It is Commercially zoned in a Canadian Province.
Upon doing a walk through, we noticed an extension cord layout ...
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Should lintels above wall portals be considered for smoke alarm placement?
I need to place a smoke alarm on my first floor (no sleeping areas). There is a wall portal with a 15" lintel (see image) between the living room and the dining room.
I am unsure whether one alarm is ...
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2 seconds of darkness
I got a 240 plug in room a, running 4 1000 watt lights.
I got a table lamp in a 110 in room b
When the 240 kicks on in room a, the light i have pluged into the 110 goes off for a second or 2 in ...
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Is it safe to stuff some insulation above my electric stove?
I have a coil-style electric stove with a "hood" above it. The hood has a nice light fixture built in. It also has an exhaust fan which I frankly never use. The problem is that there is a gap where ...
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May I block off all windows in a mostly below-ground basement?
I have read Is it necessary to put a special egress window in a basement bedroom if there's already a window above ground. My situation is similar but different.
My basement has a furnace, a ...
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Refrigerator should be away from LPG cylinder. Why?
In India (and probably other parts of the world) there's general advice regarding refrigerator positioning. It is suggested that we keep the refrigerator away from the Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) ...
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18 gauge wire on 18 branches
I have 12 gauge wire to a 20amp circuit going around a bedroom. Then I have a fixture with 18 G9 LED bulbs on a chandelier. Do I just wire all hot leads to the hot 12 gauge and wire all the whites ...
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Part identification: Thermal cutoff within baseboard heater
We had a contractor paint our baseboard heaters with white thermal paint. He gutted the radiator's electrical components, in order to prepare the chassis for painting. In doing so, he snipped what he ...
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Are lightbulbs in a wooden range hood safe?
I'm building a wooden range hood and I'd like to know if my lighting setup is safe. I have two recessed fixtures with 5 watt LED bulbs. I know that LED bulbs don't really get too hot, but is it a ...
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Should I use Fire Bricks in Wood Stove
I recently bought a new place with a wood stove which needs the Fire Bricks replaced. I have read they reduce heat generation in the room and might not be needed. (More efficient without but possibly ...
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Why is my electric wall oven suddenly causing strong hot chemical odor?
Friday solar panel company was in attic crawl space doing wiring for panels. Solar not yet energized. Sunday used electric wall oven, had very strong hot wire/chemical odor, never had this before. ...
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